NHL Trade Rumors: Canadiens and Penguins locked in trade war over Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague

As the NHL offseason approaches, trade chatter is intensifying—and one name drawing major attention is Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague. According to veteran insider Nick Kypreos, the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a franchise valued at $1.75 billion by Forbes, are reportedly “hot on the trail” of the 26-year-old blueliner.In his recent Toronto Star column, Nick Kypreos highlighted how the scarcity of quality unrestricted free agent defensemen this offseason is pushing Hague’s trade value to the forefront. With the Golden Knights facing salary cap constraints, the possibility of moving Hague is becoming increasingly real.“There aren’t many quality UFA defencemen out there, so that makes Nicolas Hague of the Golden Knights a very attractive trade chip if and when Vegas decides to move him because of limited salary-cap space. I’m hearing the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are hot on the trail to potentially trade for him,” Kypreos wrote.The Penguins aren’t the only ones circling. Renowned NHL insider Elliotte Friedman also mentioned the Philadelphia Flyers as another suitor. With both the Flyers and Penguins in search of a left-shot defenseman, the race to land Hague could spark a fierce bidding war between division rivals.Originally selected 34th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by Vegas, Hague has spent six solid seasons with the team. In 2024–25, he finished with 12 points—five goals and seven assists—along with two points in the playoffs. Despite not being a top-tier scorer, Hague’s consistent two-way presence and size make him an asset on any blue line.Currently a restricted free agent, Hague just completed a three-year, $6.8 million deal. With a new contract likely to command a raise, the Golden Knights may be forced to move him unless they make additional cap space.Also Read: Brad Marchand’s playoff dominance sparks free agency buzz as Panthers push for Stanley Cup gloryMeanwhile, Montreal coach Martin St-Louis recently earned recognition of his own, finishing third in Jack Adams Trophy voting behind Spencer Carbery and Scott Arniel. Despite a first-round playoff exit, the Canadiens' progress under St-Louis adds further intrigue to their interest in Hague, suggesting the franchise is ready to make strategic upgrades.As the offseason heats up, expect Hague’s name to remain front and center in trade rumors.